Shoe stitcher



. 9,1941. E. e. WOLF snob STITCHER Filed S ept. 5, 1939 3 Sheis-Sheet 1 l I I l I INVENTOR EUGENE G. WOLF 1 AT ORNEY 9', 1941. E. e. WOLF SHOE S'IiI CHER Filed Sept. 5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

INVENTOR YEUGENE G. WOLF BY M TTOIRHNEY Dec. 9, 1941.

' Filed Sept. 5, 1939 E. WOLF SHOE STITCHER 5 sheets-sheet s 7 'EUGENE G. WOLF Patented Dec. 9, 1941 SHOE s'rrronnn.

Eugene G. Wolf, St. Louis, Mo., assignor t0 Landis Machine Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 5, 1939, Serial No. 293,436

14 Claims. (Cl. 112-47) The invention relates to stitchers of the type generally used in sewing shoe soles and uppers together and including a head or table and structure slidably mounted on the machine head and carrying and feeding the stitcher awl.

One of the objects of the invention is to increase the stability of the awl carrying structure without reducing the clearance beneath the awl which accommodates the portion of the work projecting downwardly from the awl and the work table, and without extending the head forwardly.

Another object of the invention is to hold to a minimum the wear on interengaging sliding bearings on the parts which mount such structure. Also it is desired to maintain a satisfactory fit between the sliding bearing with a minimum amount of adjustment and replacement of the.

parts.

Another object is to protect the feed slide bearings from dirt and fragments of leather discharged from the work by the needle and awl.

Another object is to facilitate adjustment of the edge guage relative to the needle and awl to accommodate variations in the spacing of the stitching from the edge of the sole, either in dif- 2 ferent shoes or at different points on the same shoe, as in so-called Baltimore edge soles.

Another object is to facilitate changing the length of the stitches, either in different shoes or at different points on the same shoe, and, preferably, to facilitate such variation during the operation of the machine.

Another object is to coordinate the variation in the position of the edge guage and in the length of the stitches, as described above, so that a single adjustment by the operatorwill effect both a change in the guage and a change in the length of the stitches.

These and other detail objects of the invention are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a front elevation of a portion of a Goodyear type stitcher showing the parts essential to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation looking at the left hand side of the machine as shown in Figure 1.

Figure*3 is a top view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail vertical sections taken on the corresponding section lines of Figure 3.

The machine frame is indicated at I and in- .cludes a table or head 2 provided with upwardly facing surfaces 3 and 4, surface 3 extending inwardly from the extreme forward edge of the table and surface 4 .being spaced rearwardly therefrom. A bearing strip 5 rests on surface 3 and is detachably secured to head 2 by studs 6 and includes an upwardly facing bearing 1 extending to the vertical plane of the front edge of the table and also includes a diagonal bearing 8 facing rearwardly and downwardly.

The feed slide 9 corresponds to slides in general use in having a rear flange ID in sliding engagement with surface 4. The feed slide also includes a front flange I I in sliding engagement with bearing 1. A retainer I2 is detachably secured to head 2 and overlies the top of flange III. A retainer i3 is detachably secured to slide 9 and underlies the beveled rear edge of bearing strip 5.

Flange I I overlies all the upwardly facing crevices between elements 5, 9, I3 and the forward portion of head 2 and prevents fragments of leather, thread and other foreign matter from dropping into these crevices.

The upper portion I4 of feed slide 9 projects forwardly and forms a bearing for the awl segment I 5 in the usual manner, but this mounting of the mechanism is well in from the vertical plane defining the front edge of table 2 and the corresponding bearing surfaces on elements 5 and II. As the awl I6 rises and is thrust through the shoe sole S, the downward reaction through bracket I4 is between the front and rear edge of the feed slide. This reduces wear on the bearings, and particularly upon the upper face of flange it and the opposing face of retainer I2.

The beveled bearing between elements 5 and I3 facilitates adjustment of these parts. Strip 5 is moved inwardly until it contacts strip I3, and then studs 6 are tightened. The holes through table 2 for studs 6 are large enough to permit such "adjustment of the studs and strip 5 forwardly and rearwardly as is necessary to accommodate any variations in parts 5 and I3 or wear of the same. The adjustment referred to does not require themechanical skill necessary to properly adjust the gibs mounted for lateral movement on the table as previously used.

The feed slide is reciprocated by the usual feed cam 20 on shaft 2| journaled in brackets 22 on the machine head. The cam throw is transmitted to the feed slide through a linkage, which is readily adjustable by the operator while the machine is running, to vary the feed, 1. e. the length of the.

stitches, and, in some classes of work, the spacing of the line of stitches from the edge of the sole. The throw lever has a stationary pivot 23, an upper arm 24, mounting the cam roller 25, and a lower arm 26'having an arcuate channel 21. A link 28 mounts a slide block 29 (Figs. 3 and 4) re- Qceived in channel 21, and has an inner end 30 pivotally connected to a bracket 3| on feed slide 3. The other end of link 28 forms a handle 32 which may be grasped by the operator.

A rod 33 (Figs. 2 and 3) is pivoted to link 28 and extends rearwardly therefrom and is slidably received in a sleeve 34 having a vertical pivot 35 journaled in a bushing 33 secured to the machine head. Washer 31, secured to the upper end of pivot 35, rests upon theupper end of bushing 36 to support sleeve 34 and the rear end of rod 33. Sleeve 34 has a depending arm 38 slidably receiving a plunger 39 having a beveled upper end for engaging teeth 45 formed in the bottom face of rod 33. An adjusting screw 4| is threaded into the lower end of arm 38 and seats a coil spring 42 which yieldingly thrusts plunger 39 upwardly. Screw 43 holds plunger 39 against rotation so that its beveled edge is aligned with teeth 40. Screw 44 projects into an annular recess in screw 4 and limits the downward movement of the latter so that the parts cannot be accidentally disassembled. Adjustable stops 45 on rod 33 limit its movement through sleeve 34.

The movement of handle, 32 forwardly and rearwardly varies the effective length of lever arm 25 and thereby varies the length of travel of the feed slide between, successive stitches, and this determines the length of the stitches.

This adjustment is made'without shifting the awl and possibly affecting its alignment with the needle as follows the variation in the length of the stitch with some mechanisms previously used.

Bracket 3| may be adjusted on the feed slide by means of studs 46 and 41, but such adjustment will only be made during the initial assembly of the mechanism, or possibly later when the awl is changed and the point of a new awl falls in a different position from that of the old awl. I

Usually the edge guage for the work is mounted on the machine head, the work, needle and awl moving relative to the guage during the feeding action. In the present machine, the guage 49 is mounted on the feed slide so that it moves therewith and hence it can be brought closer to the awl and needle and there is less likelihood of the spacing of the stitches from the sole edge varying because of the'rnovement of the shoe along the guage. The guage 49 overlies the work support 53 fixed on the machine frame and is adjustable ona carrying bracket 58 which is supported by a horizontal stem 59 journaled in a lateral opening in the upright portion of the feed slide. Normally bracket 53 is held upright by a spring pressed plunger 53 having a spherical head seated in a corresponding recess 6| provided therefor in the side of bracket 58. A pin 62 projects laterally from plunger 33 through an opening in the side of the feed slide, and an acorn nut 63 on the outer end of pin 62 provides means for manually moving the plunger inwardly to release the bracket when it may be moved to the dot and dash position shown at 49c (Fig. l) It will be understood that this release and movement of the guage bracket is required only when it is desired to gain access to the parts behind the guage or to operate the stitcher without using the guage.

The guage 43 is moved forwardly and rearwardly by a -lever'5l pivoted onthe feed slide at 52 with its split right hand end and screw 54 forming an adjustable jaw for frictionally grip ping the upper and lower'faces of the adjacent portion 53 of the feed slide. lever mounts an; upright pin'having' a cylin drical lower end 56 and a flattened upper end 51' fitting into a transverse groove in the bottom of guage bracket 58. Lever 5| may be shifted by a knob' 55 depending from its right hand end.

This end of lever 5| is also provided with a rod 54 extending rearwardly through a clamp 55 provided on link 28 near its handle 22. Adjustable stops 35 on rod 55 at opposite sides of clamp 55 may be utilized to limit the shifting of rod 54 and lever 5|. If it is desired to vary the spacing between the sole edge and the line of stitches automatically as the length of the stitches is varied by shifting link 28 in lever arm 25, the operator may tighten clamp 55 whereupon movement of handle 32 towards the front of the machine (which lengthens the stitch) also moves the right hand end of lever 5| towards the front of the machine and moves the left hand end of lever 5|, pin 565'|, bracket 58 and guage 49 inwardly or rearwardly of the machine, thereby permitting the edge of the sole to move inwardly and increasing the space between the line of stitches and the edge ofv the sole. Similarly moving handle 32 rearwardly to shorten the stitches decreases the space between the sole edge and the line of stitches. In this operation stops 66 are so spaced from clamp that they have no function.

If clamp 55 and stops 66 are released, link 28 may be shifted by its handle 32 to vary the length of the stitches without affecting the spacing of the stitches from the edge of the sole because the friction between lever 5| and element 53 of the feed slide will hold the guage lever stationary.

1 With clamp 55 and stops 56 released, the spacing of the stitches from the sole edge may be changed as desired by a manual shifting of lever 5! through its handle 55 and without moving link 28 and changing the length of the stitches.

Screw 4| may be fed upwardly readily by rotation of its knurled head until its upper end contacts plunger 39 and positively holds the lat-' ter against downward movement. This effectively locks rod 33 against accidental movement and unintentional change in the length of the stitches. When rod- 33 is so locked, stops 66 may be positioned on rod 54 to limit the guage shifting movement of lever 5|, but without holding lever 5| against an movement as would attend the tight- The left hand end'of ening of clamp 55. In any event, movement of the guage towards the awl and needle is limited by contact of screw 5'! (Fig. 3) with bracket 3|, the screw being threaded in a rib 68 on lever 5| and locked in position by a nut. 69.

While the above description details the construction in accordance with the selected embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that the parts may be varied substantially in other embodiments of the invention and that some of the features may be used without necessarily being associated with other features, the exclusive use of those modifications of the invention coming within the scope of the appended claims as contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a stitcher of the class described, a frame provided with'an upwardly facing bearing element along its forward edge, an awl carrying feed slide supported on said element, said element having an inclined surface facing downwardly and rearwardly of the machine and spaced rearwardly of the machine from said edge, and said feed slide being provided with a retaining mem ber for engaging said inclined surface to hold said feed slide to said bearing element. 7 .2. A structure as described in claim lin Which the frame bearing element is movable forwardly and rearwardly of the frame to properly engage the inclined surfaces on the bearing element and the retaining member.

3. In a stitcher of the class described, a frame having bearing elements spaced forwardly and rearwardly of the machine, a feed slide supported on said elements, front and rear retaining members for holding said slide to said elements, the front retaining member being mounted on said feed slide and, having an upwardly facing forward portion opposing a downwardly facing rear portion of the front bearing element, whereby the feed slide may be supported at the front extremity of the feed slide and the front bearing therefor.

4. In a stitcher of the class described, a frame, a feed slide movable thereon, a mechanism for varying the length of the stitches including an oscillatable lever arm and a link connecting the same to the feed slide, the link being movable along the arm by an operator while the machine is running to vary the movement of the slide by the arm, a device for yieldingly retaining the link and arm in selected relation comprising a member connected to the link and extending rearwardly therefrom, and means mounted on the machine frame for holding said member against movement but yieldable under intentional thrust on the link by the operator.

5. A structure as described in claim 4 in which the link holding member comprises a toothed rod and the holding means therefor on the frame comprises a spring pressed plunger opposing the teeth on said rod.

6. A structure as described in claim 4 in which the link holding member comprises a toothed rod and the holding means therefor on the frame includes a member slidably receiving said rod, there being stops mounted on said rod at opposite sides of said member to limit the movement of said rod and the variation of the length of the machine stitches.

7. A structure as described in claim 4 in which the link holding member comprises a toothed rod and the holding means therefor on the frame includes a sleeve slidably receiving said rod and having a, laterally extending arm, there being a spring pressed plunger carried by said arm and opposing the teeth on said rod intermediate the ends of said sleeve, and stops selectively secured to said rod at opposite sides of said sleeve to engage the ends thereof to positively limit the movement of said rod and link and the corresponding variation of the length of the machine stitches.

8. In a stitcher of the class described having a feed slide with a bracket for mounting the stitcher awl, a guage mounted on said bracket to slide forwardly and rearwardly of the machine towards and from the awl, a lever pivoted on the feed slide with a short arm connected to said guage and a long arm having frictional engagement with the feed slide and arranged to be moved manually to adjust the guage. I

9. A stitcher of the class described in claim 8 which also includes a mechanism for adjusting the length of the feed slide travel to vary the length of the stitches, there being a connection between the guage control lever and said mechanism for automatically adjusting the guage when the length of stitches is varied.

10. In a stitcher of the class described, a frame, a feed slide movable thereon, a mechanism for varying the length of the stitches including an oscillatable lever arm and a link extending substantially parallel to the front of the machine and connecting the arm to the feed slide, the link being movable along the arm by an operator while the machine is running to vary the movement of the slide by the arm, means for yieldingly retaining the link and arm in selected relation, an edge guage mounted on the feed slide and adjustable thereon to vary the spacing of the stitches from the edge of the work, a lever for adjusting said guage extending in the same general direction as said link, and a connection between said link and the end of said lever spaced from said guage whereby movement of said link to vary the movement of the slide also varies the spacing of the stitches from the edge of the work.

11. A structure as described in claim 4, which also includes a readily manipulated device for positively locking the device maintaining the relation of the link and arm.

12. A structure a described in claim 4 in which the link holding member comprises a toothed rod and the holding means therefor on the frame comprises a spring pressed plunger opposing the teeth on said rod, there being a readily adjustable device for positively holding said plunger in engagement with selected teeth on said rod.

13. In a stitcher of the class described, a frame, a feed slide movable thereon, a mechanism for varying the length of the stitches including an oscillatable lever arm and a link connecting the same to the feed slide, the link being movable along the arm by an operator while the machine is running to vary the movement of the slide by the arm, means for yieldingly retaining the link and arm in selected relation comprising a rod connected to said link and extending therefrom rearwardly of the machine, a sleeve mounted on the machine frame and slidably receiving said rod, a detent movable in said sleeve transversely of said rod, 2. spring normally thrusting said detent against said rod to yieldingly hold said rod against movement, and a manually operable element for moving said detent against said rod to positively hold said rod against movement.

14. In a stitcher of the class described, a head having an upwardly facing surface, a feed slide including a base, said head having an inwardly facing edge intersecting said surface and said slide base having a forwardly facing edge opposing said head edge, said edges positioning said feed slide laterally and forming an upwardly opening joint between them, said slide base extending forwardly of said joint to the front of said head and having a sliding bearing on said surface and preventing the entrance of foreign matter into said joint.

EUGENE G. WOLF. 

